Washing-machine



i (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. E. RITCHIE.

, WASHING MAGHINE.

No. 549,535. Patented Nov. 12 1895.

MochEBzTchaia AN DREW BYGRAHAM. PHUTD-LITHD. wAsmrl GTONDYC (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. E..RITO-HIE. WASHING MACHINE.

' Patente Nov. 12,1895.

a 7 A: 2 m ga m v Rm 3 1|", v i 5 m N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENOCH E. RITCHIE, OF HOWARD LAKE, MINNESOTA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,535, dated November 12, 1895.

Application filed June 28, 1895. $erial No. 554,349. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ENooH E. RITCHIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at How ard Lake, in the county of WVright and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in washing-machines The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of washing-machines, and to provide a simple and inexpensive one which will enable the operation of washing to be rapidly and thoroughly effected without injuring the fabrics and at the expenditure of a minimum amount of labor.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of that class of Washing-machines which are provided with rock ers and which oscillate during the operation of washing and to enable them to be maintained stationary while the wringer is in use. The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a washing-machine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the pivoted legs for supporting one end of the washing-machine when the wringer is in use.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw-' ings.

1 designates a washing-machine mounted on rockers 2 and composed of similar sides 8, constructed of wood or any other suitable material, and a continuous strip of corrugated sheet metal secured between the sides and forming a bottom at and ends 3. The bottom 4 is arched and the ends are concavely curved, the concave faces being in-- ward. The corrugations are transversely disposed and provide a rubbin g-surface throughout the entire length of the machine, and during the operation of the latter the clothes are continually rubbed and are caused to rotate or turn to bring the different portions of the fabrics successively in contact with the rubbing-surfaces.

The sides 3 are connected at intervals by transverse rods 6, provided at their ends with nuts 7 and arranged in depressions or grooves formed by the corrugations of the sheet metal constituting the bottom and ends of the washing-machine, and the sides are connected at the top of the machine, at the ends of the sheet-metal piece, by transverse bars or strips 8, arranged to form between them an opening to permit access to the interior of the washing-machine.

At one side of the opening is arranged a transversely disposed wringer receiving board 9, upon which is designed to be mounted in the ordinary manner a wringer of the ordinary construction,as will be readily understood, and the wringer is conveniently located to. receive the clothes as they are taken from the washing-machine body.

ithin the opening at the top of the washing-machine are secured horizontal strips or cleats 10, forming a support for a cover 11, which is arranged in the opening during the operation of washing to prevent the contents of the washing-machine from splashing out when the washing-machine is being oscillated.

The washing-machine is provided at one end with a handle 12, located above the machine and connected with the same by bars 13, and at each end the washing-machine is provided with a transverse rod 14, forming a supplemental handle to facilitate the moving of the machine from one place to another, the handle 12 being employed for oscillating the machine. The sides of the washing-ma chine project beyond the sheet metal forming the ends, and the transverse rods are located between the projecting portions of the sides. Vertical cleats 15 are secured to the outer faces of the sides and are located at the ends thereof, and are preferably constructed of hard wood. These cleats serve to support the sides and to prevent them from warping, and they are perforated for the reception of the transverse rods, which connect the sides of the washing-machine.

directlybeneath the lower edges of the sides thereof.

After the operation of washing has been completed the washing-machine is held stationary during the operation of wringing by means of legs 16, pivoted at their upper ends to the inner faces of the rockers and located at one end of the washing-machine and adapted during the operation of the latter to be folded upward against the lower edges of the sides 3. The downward and upward swinging of the pivoted legs is limited by stops 17, secured to the inner faces of the rockers and adapted to maintain the legs in an inclined position, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The pivoted legs are connected by a rung 18, having its ends fitting loosely in perforations of the legs and connected with them by springs 19. The springs 19 are secured intermediate of their ends to the rungs and project from. opposite sides thereof, being disposed longitudinally of the legs, and the ends of the springs engage the inner faces of the legs and force the latter outward, whereby the legs are caused to engage frictionally with the inner faces of the rockers. This frictional engagement of the legs with the rockers maintains the legs in their folded position and prevents them from accidentally swinging downward dnrin g the oscillation of the washing-machine.

It will be seen that the washing-machine is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction; that itis adapted to be oscillated at an expenditure of a minimum amount of labor, and that it is capable of thoroughly and rapidly washing clothes.

It will also be apparent that as the contents of the washing-machine are thrown from one end thereof to the other they will be rotated, thereby causing the different portions of the fabrics to be successively carried in contact with the rubbing-surface, and that after the operation of washing has been completed the machine is held stationary to form a convenient support for a wringer.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

\Vhat I claim is- In a washing machine,the combination with a body provided with rockers, legs pivotally mounted on the rockers and arranged to fold above the lower edges thereof, when not in use, and provided with perforations, a rung connecting the legs, and springs mounted on the rung and engaging the legs and forcing the latter outward into frictional en ga gem cut with the rockers, substantially as and fol-the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoin as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ENOC II 1C. RITCHIE. IVitnesses:

F. E. LATHAM, CARL LUHMANN. 

